4 February 2025 - The fifth ASQ International Music Academy in Asia was held in Zhongshan, China from 20 to 25 January.

It followed a very successful 2024 for the quartet with the double celebrations in July of the Twentieth Anniversary of the Aroha String Quartet and the Tenth Anniversary of the ASQ International Music Academy in Wellington.

This year in the Zhongshan Academy, the team consisted of Haihong, Konstanze, Kim and Sabrina Chiang (Taiwanese cellist and director of Taichung Saint Cecilia Festival Orchestra). They were joined by local musicians and teachers headed by violinist May (Meijuan) Chen.

The six day course was filled with intensive string orchestra and chamber music rehearsals and coaching, and was attended by 40 young participants aged from 6 to 25.

On the Thursday evening the Tutors Concert was held, featuring Schubert's 'Death and the Maiden' Quartet performed by the Aroha String Quartet, Beethoven Serenade for String Trio Op 8 by the Sunshine String Trio from Zhongshan, and Mozart's Divertimento in D K136 performed by a combined tutor ensemble.

The Gala concert was held on the afternoon of 25th January. Highlights among the excellent performances given by participant ensembles included the seven year old concertmaster, Xi-Rui Xie, who demonstrated outstanding leadership and a performance of Beethoven's String Quartet Op 18 No 3 led by Fengyao Liu.

Both concerts were held in Zhongshan Culture and Performing Arts Centre auditorium.

The success of the course was the result of a superb team effort by all participants and faculty. Special thanks to ongoing support from our principal sponsor Huaxing Violins and Mr. Zuliang Wu. We are also grateful for kind support from Jian-Yi Copy and Printing Services and Parsons Music.